Voices of the Vigilant podcast: humanizing cybersecurity
with candid tales from cyberspace and beyond
About the Voices of the Vigilant podcast
Voices of the Vigilant is a cybersecurity podcast about the humans behind the work — their stories, their pivots, their hard-earned lessons. Each episode is a candid conversation with practitioners, leaders, and thinkers doing meaningful things in the field.
New episodes drop monthly. Find the full catalog below or on all major podcast platforms and YouTube.
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Voices of the Vigilant reaches a targeted audience of cybersecurity professionals, career changers, and security leaders. If your product or service belongs in that conversation, let’s talk about a sponsorship.
Voices of the Vigilant episode catalog
Voices of the Vigilant S2 EP5 | Podcasthon 2026 Special - Cyberjutsu’s Playbook For Belonging In Cybersecurity
This episode features Mari Galloway , CEO and founding board member of Women's Society of Cyberjutsu (WSC), one of the fastest-growing 501(c)(3) nonprofit cybersecurity communities focused on advancing women and girls in cybersecurity.
"When you come into Cyberjutsu, the vibe is — let me find a place where I can squeeze in here, because I like this."
That's Mari, describing what makes this organization different. Not a conference where you disappear into the crowd. Not a nonprofit where you feel like a number. A community where hands-on learning, real mentorship, and genuine belonging are the whole point — and have been since 2012.
This June, that community converges at CyberjutsuCon 2026 in Washington, D.C. Technical workshops, keynotes, a CTF sponsored by Hack the Box, a career village, and yes — a sneaker ball. The theme: Beyond the Patterns. Because AI is here, quantum is coming, and the cybersecurity workforce needs to be ready.
Tickets start at $100. Sponsorships start at $2,500. The mission is priceless.
Voices of the Vigilant S2 EP4 | Speaking Security: Leadership Language and Learning to Pivot
This episode features Ash Mohanaprakas , a cybersecurity and privacy leader who helps modern organizations turn security, GRC, and compliance from cost centres into strategic business advantage.
“I see ISO 27001 as a relational database — all of these different artifacts link together and interact, giving the organization a contextual and accurate view of their risks and opportunities. People want to do the right thing. They just don't know what that looks like, or they need a little guidance to say, this is why you need to care about this."
Voices of the Vigilant S2 EP3 | Built to Defend, Wired to Lead.
This episode features Shira Shamban, cybersecurity entrepreneur, former officer in Israel’s elite Unit 8200, and co-founder of Solvo, the cloud security startup acquired by CYE in 2025. Shira unpacks what it really takes to move from deep technical research to the CEO seat—how to “shift left” in cloud security without losing developer trust, raise $3M over Zoom during a global pandemic, and build a company strong enough to exit. But this conversation goes beyond product and playbooks. We talk about power. Influence. The soft skill that quietly becomes your greatest weapon. And why diversifying the tech landscape isn’t charity, it’s critical infrastructure. From elite intelligence operations to global mentorship through her Security Diva mission, Shira is redefining what modern cyber leadership looks like. If you care about cloud security, founder grit, or building rooms where more women win—this episode is for you.
Voices of the Vigilant S2 EP2 | Protecting What Matters: Disney, Diversity, and Doing the Work
This episode features Rob “Bowtie Security Guy” Whetstine, Director of Information Security at a Fortune 500 company.
What if the fastest way into cybersecurity isn’t another cert, but a soldering iron, a home lab, and the courage to say “I don’t know”? In this episode, we sit down with Rob “Bowtie Security Guy” Whetstine—prop builder, mentor, and former Disney security leader—who went from dumpster diving for tech to leading teams at the highest levels. Rob makes the case that tinkering beats test prep, calm beats chaos, and passion plus proof beats pedigree. From cracking high-pressure interviews to building teams that don’t burn out, this is a roadmap for anyone who wants to build a real, durable career in cyber.
The human side of tech
As a gifted speaker and connector, Jess is super excited to share this project with you! Each episode features a candid conversation with folks in the infosec space on a specific topic and is designed to educate and inspire you to take action on your own terms.
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Know someone, or are someone, with a story worth hearing? We’re always looking for practitioners, leaders, and unconventional voices from across the security landscape.